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Petra - 35 years oldAn Advent holiday at the Familienhotel Rainer in Sexten

A voyage of discovery to our very own land; or, there’s always a first time

It’s become a family tradition: each year, as the frantic Christmas preparations reach their peak, we three slip away for a weekend and spend some time together. Just the three of us, rediscovering what really counts: and so it was this time.

No, it hadn’t snowed yet this year – the big snowfalls were still to come. But that was not the reason why we decided on the Family Resort Rainer in Sexten. The place we had chosen for our retreat had to offer something for everyone, fulfilling wishes large and small for large and small alike. We also wanted to go somewhere in our own land, somewhere none of us had ever been before. I once read a line that often comes back to me: “If you want life to remain an adventure, try as often as possible to do something for the first time and discover the new, even in the smallest things.” So there you have it.

We had hardly put down our bags before we were into our swimming, sauna and paddling pool outfits. The three of us are real spa fans so, while one of us put on water-wings and whizzed down the water slide again and again, Dad swam a few leisurely lengths and I crept off to the warm sauna with its picture windows overlooking the majestic peaks of the Drei Zinnen. We drank tea, lounged in the jacuzzi, read the newspaper and laughed out loud as we played in the water. Then, as we sat in the warm outdoor pool, the sky suddenly changed colour to red and violet, pink and orange.

When everything’s good…With a feeling of internal peace, we enjoyed a glass of sparkling wine in front of the open fire and everyone said how much they were looking forward to the arrival of Father Christmas. I like Christmas, not to mention this stylishly decorated hotel. “Now, at this moment, everything is simply good”, I thought.

Our little boy rapidly scoffed his way through the children’s buffet. There are more important things for kids than dinner: playing, for example, in the enormous playroom with the numerous little ones, a thousand things to discover and affectionate childcare. For us on the other hand there was simply NOTHING more important this evening than ourselves, and the pleasure of the extensive 4-course menu. Such evenings also require the very best of wines, and that is just what we were served.The first time – but not the lastThe next day we indulged our spirit of discovery to the full. A morning visit to the Christmas market in Innichen, a delicious rustic Italian lunch in Belluno – just three more pine trees around the corner, darling – a wonderful afternoon forest walk with fantastic views of the snow-covered mountains and then, in the village, the authentic “Krampus” procession, the wild and noisy companions of Saint Nicholas, a gruesome spectacle that our 4-year old was braver at watching than I was! But you should try as often as possible to do something for the first time…

After a weekend like this, however, one thing is for sure. This first time will not be the last at the Family Resort Rainer, Sexten and its surroundings – we’ll be back!!